Back-to-work fashion in a post-pandemic world

by M.C Brown (Content Editor)

Image Source: Getty

As vaccination rollouts around the world accelerate, people are gearing up for a grand return to the office and getting back into the "real world" post-pandemic. Many are excited to dress up – but are not ready yet to ditch the comfort they have become accustomed to.

In general, the pandemic has changed consumers' views on office wear, preferring comfort over appearance. Expect workplace attire to be less formal, more casual and versatile, combining utility and comfort with presentability.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the back-to-work fashion trends offices will be seeing:

Workleisure has arrived

There is no doubt the rules on office attire have changed. Before the pandemic, suits, button-down shirts and slacks were the norm. But a recent article in the Wall Street Journal reports that many brands are scaling down their production of suits and adding more stretch to their pants, giving rise to a new word in fashion – workleisure. Imagine yoga pants that look like dress pants, T-shirts that can be worn to work or a dressier version of cork-lined sandals dubbed the "work birk".

Even Dockers is adding more stretch to its classic chinos. "They look like khakis, but they feel more like sweatpants," the brand's global head of design Nick Rendic told the Wall Street Journal.

Introducing the jardigan

Looks like black suits and blazers are out. Meet the new blazer: jardigan. Per NBC news, M.M.LaFleur's jardigans, made of cardigan materials, are increasing in popularity among consumers.

Image Source: Pexels

Sustainable clothing

Forget casual Fridays. Post-pandemic, every day of the week is about casual and comfortable dressing that reflects an individual's personal style. Think professional silhouettes but in fabrics that are made of woven materials like cotton. Practical yet dressy and can be either worn comfortably at the office or lounging at home after work.

Soft and flowy

Expect soft, flowy and loose-fitting clothing to be trending. Per a recent report from Axios, consumers are avoiding things with zippers and buttons, as well as overly boxy clothing. From January to May, online sales of jersey dresses jumped 138%, stretch blazers 135%, skirt suits 127%, blouses 121% and dresses 108%, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Bold and bright

Bright colors rule after the darkness of the pandemic. Get ready to be greeted by a dazzle of colors – turquoise, pink, lavender and bold prints. This maximalist trend is largely driven by Gen Z, which is trending toward the opposite of the millennials' style minimalism. An April report from Pinterest found Gen Z led a 14-fold increase in searches for "zebra pants", a 12-fold increase in "plaid pleated skirt" and a 133-fold rise in '60s and '70s fashion' between the first quarter of last year and the same time this year.

Image Source: Pexels

Flats all the way

Say goodbye to uncomfortable heels and stilettos at work. Casual flats and sneakers will be the new footwear norm – even on a night out.

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